Systems for immunoassay tests

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/301,228 filed Jun. 10, 2014; which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/936,047 filed Jul. 5, 2013; which is acontinuation of PCT/US2012/020532, filed Jan. 6, 2012; which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/430,963, filed Jan.8,2011. The contents of the above-identified applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for conducting automated immunoassaytests. The system comprises a load and release mechanism to sequentiallylocate one or more probes to a plurality of wells on one or morecartridges. The invention also relates to a cartridge that comprisessample well, reagent well, wash wells, measurement well and a probe wellto accommodate and secure the probe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the development of immunoassay systems, many performance requirementsneed be met. Assays need be sensitive enough to detect analyte at verylow levels in the subpicogram to nanogram per milliliter range. Totalassay time needs to be 15 minutes or less in order to provide timelyresults for patient management in point of care situations, or to meetthroughput requirements for batch analyzers. In some cases, analytepanels where multiple assays are simultaneously performed with the samesample are advantageous in order to minimize the turnaround time forresults and test costs. All-in-one reagent cartridge and an automaticsystem conducting an immunoassay test on the cartridge is desired forminimal human input error, cost saving, and prompt results.

Many immunoassays employ fluorescent labels because such labels offermany practical advantages. Compared to enzymes, fluorescent labels aremuch more stable and do not require an additional substrate reagent. Formultianalyte panels, fluorescent labels enable the use of discretebinding zones within a common reaction chamber since each binding zonecan be sequentially subjected to fluorescence excitation and emissionmeasurements without interference from adjacent binding zones. Assaysutilizing fluorescent labels, however, are sometimes less sensitive thanenzyme based assays primarily due to the enzyme's ability tocatalytically convert substrate to accumulate a great amount of productmolecules over time.

Arylsulfonate cyanine fluorescent dyes are described in Mujumdar et al.(1993) Bioconjugate Chemistry, 4:105-111; Southwick et al. (1990)Cytometry, 11:418-430; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,486. Cy5 is described ineach of the references and is commercially available from BiologicalDetection Systems, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., under the tradenameFLUOROLINK™ Cy5™. The arylsulfonate cyanine fluorescent dyes have highextinction coefficients (typically from 130,000 L/mole to 250,000L/mole), good quantum yields, fluorescent emission spectra in a range(500 nm to 750 nm) outside of the autofluorescence wavelengths of mostbiological materials and plastics, good solubilities, and lownon-specific binding characteristics.

There exists a need for immunoassay apparatuses and disposables, whichare sensitive for detection of analytes and can be used in an automatedsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cartridge for an immunoassaytest. The cartridge comprises (a) a probe well comprising a probe and acap, the cap being in a closed position to enclose the probe in theprobe well, wherein the probe has a bottom tip coated withanalyte-binding molecules; (b) a sample well to receive a sample; (c)one or more reagent wells; (d) a plurality of wash wells each containinga first aqueous solution; and (e) a measurement well having a lighttransmissive bottom, the measurement well containing a second aqueoussolution; wherein the openings of the sample well, reagent well,measurement well and wash wells are sealed.

The present invention is also directed to a probe. The probe is made tohave (a) a rod having a bottom tip; (b) a flange surrounding the rod;and (c) a sleeve under the flange; wherein the bottom tip is coated withanalyte-binding molecules and the rod has a portion extruding from a topside of the flange.

The present invention is also directed to an apparatus for loading andreleasing at least one probe having a rod-shaped portion. The apparatuscomprising (a) a groove unit having a groove along a vertical directionconfigured to hold the rod-shaped portion of the probe along thevertical direction; and (b) a push pin configured to move along ahorizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a firstposition and a second position; wherein a tip of the push pin is capableof pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove whenthe push pin resides at the first position; and the distance between thetip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of therod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the secondposition.

The present invention is also directed to an apparatus for loading andreleasing a plurality of probes, each probe of the plurality of probeshaving a rod-shaped portion having a common diameter. The apparatuscomprises a plurality of pairs of groove unit and push pin. Each paircomprises (a) a groove unit having a groove along a vertical directionconfigured to hold the rod-shaped portion of the probe along thevertical direction; and (b) a push pin configured to move along ahorizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a firstposition and a second position; wherein the tip of the push pin iscapable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against thegroove when the push pin resides at the first position; the distancebetween the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than the commondiameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pinresides at the second position; and the push pins of the pairs aremechanically coupled so that the push pins move along the horizontaldirection simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a probe to be used in an immunoassaytest.

FIG. 2 illustrates components of a probe, according to one embodimentassembled using components.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a cartridge.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a probe well and a cap of a cartridge.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a probe well and a cap when the cap isin a closed position.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of a cushion having a gasket ringportion.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a probe well and a sliding cap in aclose position.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a probe well and a sliding cap in anopen position.

FIG. 7A illustrates another example of a probe well and a sliding cap ina close position.

FIG. 7B illustrates another example of a probe well and a sliding cap inan open position.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an apparatus for loading and releasinga plurality of probes.

FIG. 9 is a section view of a rod loading mechanism,

FIG. 10 illustrates a push pin pushing a rod against a V-groove.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a loading mechanism.

FIG. 12A shows a lock position of the eccentric cam.

FIG. 12B shows a release position of the eccentric cam.

FIG. 13A illustrates an apparatus for loading a probe.

FIG. 13B illustrates an apparatus beginning to load a probe.

FIG. 13C illustrates an apparatus for transferring a probe to multiplewells.

FIG. 14 shows an apparatus loading and releasing an array of probes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Terms used in the claims and specification are to be construed inaccordance with their usual meaning as understood by one skilled in theart except and as defined as set forth below.

“About,” as used herein, refers to within ±10% of the recited value.

An “analyte-binding” molecule, as used herein, refers to any moleculecapable of participating in a specific binding reaction with an analytemolecule. Examples include but are not limited to, (i) antigenmolecules, for use in detecting the presence of antibodies specificagainst that antigen; (ii) antibody molecules, for use in detecting thepresence of antigens; (iii) protein molecules, for use in detecting thepresence of a binding partner for that protein; (iv) ligands, for use indetecting the presence of a binding partner; or (v) single strandednucleic acid molecules, for detecting the presence of nucleic acidbinding molecules.

An “aspect ratio” of a shape refers to the ratio of its longer dimensionto its shorter dimension.

A “binding molecular,” refers to a molecule that is capable to bindanother molecule of interest.

“A binding pair,” as used herein, refers to two molecules that areattracted to each other and specifically bind to each other. Examples ofbinding pairs include, but not limited to, an antigen and an antibodyagainst the antigen, a ligand and its receptor, complementary strands ofnucleic acids, biotin and avidin, biotin and streptavidin, lectin andcarbohydrates. Preferred binding pairs are biotin and streptavidin,biotin and avidin, fluorescein and anti-fluorescein,digioxigenin/anti-digioxigenin. Biotin and avidin, including biotinderivatives and avidin derivatives such as streptavidin, may be used asintermediate binding substances in assay protocols employing complexbinding sequences. For example, antibodies may be labeled with biotin(“biotinylated”) and used to bind to a target substance previouslyimmobilized on a solid phase surface. Fluorescent compositions accordingto the present invention employing an avidin or streptavidin may then beused to introduce the fluorescent label.

“Immobilized,” as used herein, refers to reagents being fixed to a solidsurface. When a reagent is immobilized to a solid surface, it is eitherbe non-covalently bound or covalently bound to the surface.

A “probe,” as used herein, refers to a substrate coated withanalyte-binding molecules at the sensing (detecting) side. A probe has abottom tip. The bottom tip has a sensing surface coated withanalyte-binding molecules.

Immunoassay Cartridge and Probe

The present invention is directed to a cartridge for an immunoassaytest. The cartridge comprises (a) a probe well comprising a probe and acap, the cap being in a closed position to enclose the probe in theprobe well, wherein the probe has a bottom tip coated withanalyte-binding molecules; (b) a sample well to receive a sample; (c)one or more reagent wells; (d) a plurality of wash wells each containinga first aqueous solution; and (e) a measurement well having a lighttransmissive bottom, the measurement well containing a second aqueoussolution; wherein the openings of the sample well, reagent well,measurement well and wash wells are sealed.

The probe can be a monolithic substrate, or include a monolithicsubstrate, or assembled with sub-components. For example, the probe caninclude a monolithic substrate; and a bottom tip of the probe or abottom tip of the monolithic substrate can be coated with analyte-bidingmolecules. The cross section of the rod portion of the probe can be anyshape such as round, square, triangle, etc. The rod portion has anaspect ratio of length to width of at least 5 to 1, preferably greaterthan 10 to 1. Because the probe is dipped in a sample solution and oneor more assay solutions during an immunoassay, it is desirable to have along probe with an aspect ratio of at least 5 to 1 to enable the probetip's immersion into the solutions. Heterogeneous assays can beperformed where the long probe is transferred to different reaction andwash chambers or wells. The sensing surface of the probe is coated withanalyte-binding molecules and bound with fluorescent labels.

The bottom tip of the probe is coated with analyte-binding molecules.Analyte-binding molecules, for example, are antigen molecules, antibodymolecules, protein molecules, or ligands. Preferably, the probe iscoated with a first antibody that binds to the analyte. Methods toimmobilize molecules to a solid phase (the bottom tip of the probe) arecommon in immunochemistry and involve formation of covalent, hydrophobicor electrostatic bonds between the solid phase and molecules.Analyte-binding molecules can be directly immobilized on the surface ofthe tip. Alternatively, analyte-binding molecules can be indirectlyimmobilized on the surface of the tip through a binding pair. Forexample, anti-fluorescein can be first immobilized either by adsorptionto the solid surface or by covalently binding to aminopropylsilanecoated on the solid surface. Then the analyte-binding molecule that islabeled with fluorescein can be bound to the solid surface through thebinding of fluorescein and anti-fluorescein (binding pair). In apreferred embodiment, the analyte-binding molecules are first antibodymolecules that bind to the antigen analyte in a sample.

A sample well is a well that receives a sample containing an analyte. Asample well can be a blank well, or it can contain detergents, blockingagents and various additives for the immunoassay, either in a dry formator in a wet (liquid) format. In human blood samples, heterophileantibodies (antibodies that bind IgG from other species) and rheumatoidfactor are common interfering substances for immunoassays. There are avariety of blocking agents minimizing this form of interference. Forexamples, blocking agents include IgGs from different species such asmurine IgGs, heat aggregated IgG, crosslinked IgG, and commerciallyavailable heterophile blockers. The wet format typically contains asmall liquid volume (<10 μL, e.g., 5 μL). The dry format includes alyophilization cake, powder, tablet or other formats typical indiagnostic kits; the dry format is to be reconstituted to a wet formatby a reconstitution buffer and/or sample. The sample well serves as aprimary reaction chamber for the reaction between the analyte in thesample and the analyte-binding molecules coated on the probe to form animmunocomplex.

The cartridge comprises one or multiple reagent wells. The reagent wellscontain reagents that react with the immunocomplex and generate a signalfor detection. The reagents can be in a wet format or in a dry format.The wet format contains a reagent in an assay buffer. The wet format istypically in a small liquid volume (<10 μL, e.g., 5 μL). An assay buffertypically includes a buffer (e.g., phosphate, tris), a carrier protein(e.g., bovine serum albumin, porcine serum albumin, and human serumalbumin, 0.1-50 mg/mL), a salt (e.g., saline), and a detergent (e.g.,Tween, Triton). An example of an assay buffer is phosphate bufferedsaline, pH 7.4, 5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, 0.05% Tween 20. The assaybuffer optionally contains a blocking agent in an amount of 1-500 μg/mL.The final formulation will vary depending on the requirements of eachanalyte assay. The dry format is the dry form of the reagent in an assaybuffer. The dry format includes lyophilization cake, powder, tablet orother formats typical in diagnostic kits. The dry format is to bereconstituted to a wet format by a reconstitution buffer. In oneembodiment, the cartridge contains only one reagent well. The reagentwell contains an analyte-binding molecule labeled with a reportermolecule, wherein the analyte-binding molecule binds to the analytemolecule. For example, the analyte-binding molecule is a second antibodythat binds to the analyte.

In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge contains two or more reagentwells. For example, a first reagent well contains second antibodymolecules (that bind to the analyte) conjugated with a first member of abinding pair, and a second reagent well contains a second member of thebinding pair labeled with reporters. For example, the first reagent wellis a biotin reagent well containing a biotinylated second antibodydirected against the analyte. The second reagent well is a streptavidinreagent well containing streptavidin labeled with reporters. Thereporters can be any of those typically used in diagnostic kits, i.e.fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or enzyme labels.

The cartridge comprises multiple washing wells each containing anaqueous solution. The wash wells contain a wash buffer to wash the probeafter binding steps in the sample well and reagent well(s). One to fourwash wells (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 wells) are dedicated for washing aftereach binding step. Wash buffers contain detergents. Any detergenttypically used in immunoassays (e.g., Tween, Triton) can be used in thisinvention.

The cartridge comprises a measurement well having an optically clearbottom that enables the detection of the labeled-immunocomplex bound tothe bottom tip of the probe. The measurement is through the bottom ofthe well. The measurement well contains a liquid solution. In the casewhen the label is an enzyme, the aqueous solution contains a substrateof the enzyme.

In one embodiment, some of the wash wells are served for the purpose ofreconstituting the dry forms in the sample well and reagent well(s).

In another embodiment, the cartridge further comprises reconstitutionwells that contain reconstitution buffer to be dispensed into the samplewells and reagent wells to reconstitute the dry forms in the sample welland reagent well(s). The reconstitution buffer can be simply a buffersuch as phosphate-buffer saline. The reconstitution buffer canadditionally include other additives (carrier protein, blockers,detergents, etc.) contained in the assay buffer. Several configurationof the reconstitution wells are feasible. For example, there can beseveral wells, each contains 50˜200 μL, e.g. 100 μL of reconstitutionbuffer, and each dedicated to each one of the sample and reagents. Orthere can be a single well with a sufficient volume for all the sampleand reagents.

For reporter molecule that labels the immunocomplex, fluorescent labelsare preferred. When the analyte-binding molecule is a protein, such asan antibody, the fluorescent label can covalently bind to it through avariety of moieties, including disulfide, hydroxyphenyl, amino,carboxyl, indole, or other functional groups, using conventionalconjugation chemistry as described in the scientific and patentliterature. Alternatively, antibodies can be biotinylated by knowntechniques (see Wilchek and Bayer, (1988) ANAL. BIOCHEM. 171:1-32) andlinked to the fluorescent label via avidin/streptavidin molecules.Exemplary techniques for binding arylsulfonate cyanine fluorescent dyelabels to antibodies and other proteins are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,268,486; 5,650,334; the contents of which are in incorporated hereinby reference. Techniques for linking a preferred Cy5 fluorescent labelto antibodies acids are described in a technical bulletin identified asCat. No. A25000, published by Biological Detection Systems, Inc.,Pittsburgh, Pa. Cy5-streptavidine-crosslinked ficoll, disclosed inWO2010/101931, has multiple fluorescent labels in one molecule and canbe used in the cartridge of the present invention to enhance the signal.

In addition to fluorescent labels, the cartridge of the presentinvention is compatible with many other commonly used labels forimmunoassays such as enzymes (HRP or alkaline phosphatase) andchemiluminescence labels. Reagents with enzymes conjugated to either asecond antibody or streptavidin can be used to bind the immunocomplexand its signal is readily detected through the clear bottom in themeasurement well containing enzyme substrates. Multiple detection modesare possible depending on the optical properties of the enzyme product,such as reflectance or adsorption of colorimeteric products. TheHRP/luminal system is the salient example of a chemiluminescent enzymeassay that is possible with the cartridge of the present invention.

Assays using chemiluminescent haptens such as ruthenium salts forelectrochemiluminescent assays is compatible with the cartridge of thepresent invention. A reagents with ruthenium (II) tris (bispyridyl)labeled to either streptavidin or the second antibody can be used tobind the immunocomplex and its signal is detected in a measurement wellcontaining tripropylamine in solution and a working and counterelectrode pair. When the appropriate voltage is applied to theelectrodes, the ruthenium salt and tripylamine react to generate light,which is detected through the clear bottom of the measurement well.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a probe 100 to be used in animmunoassay test. As shown in FIG. 1, the probe 100 comprises a rodsection 101 (also referred to as rod-shaped center segment), a sleevesection 102 and a flange section 103. The flange 103 and the sleeve 102surround the rod 101 and are located in the middle portion of the rod101. The bottom tip 104 of the rod 101 may have been coated withimmobilized analyte-binding molecules, such as antibody or antigen, onits detection surface.

The probe can be made as one piece by manufacturing processes such asmolding, casting or machining. The probe can also be made from separatesub-components. The top portion of the rod may have a different sizefrom the bottom portion. In this case, the rod can be made from, but notlimited to, a segment of optical fiber, a glass rod, a metal rod, aplastic rod or a ceramic rod. The rod 101 may comprise differentmaterial than the sleeve 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates components of probe 100, according to one embodimentof the present invention. A plastic holder 206 can be closed and cliponto the rod 201 to form the sleeve 202 and part of the flange 203. Afastener ring 207 is disposed on the plastic holder 206 to secure theplastic holder 206 on the rod 201 and serves as part of the flange 203.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the cartridge of the present invention.Cartridge 300 comprises a probe well 301 and a protective cap 302 toaccommodate and secure the probe. The probe well 301 serves as aprotective container for the probe. In one embodiment, the cap 302 ismechanically coupled to the probe well 301 via a hinge 303. After theprobe is inserted in the probe well 301, the cap 302 is folded over theprobe well 301 to fully enclose the probe. The probe may be verticallystored inside the probe well 301 when the protective cap 302 is in aclosed position.

The cartridge 300 may comprise two separate compartments of wells. Thefirst compartment comprises a sample well 311, biotin reagent well 312and streptavidin reagent 313. The biotin reagent in the biotin reagentwell 312 comprises a biotinylated second antibody. The streptavidinreagent well 313 contains a labeled streptavidin. The label may be anytypical label used in diagnostic kits, such as fluorescent,chemiluminescent, or enzyme labels. The biotin and streptavidin reagentsmay be in dry format or in a wet format of about 5 μL liquid.

The second compartment comprises reconstitution wells 322, wash wells325, and a measurement well 329. The reconstitution wells 322 contain areconstitution buffer to be dispensed into the sample, the biotinreagent and the streptavidin reagent wells 311-313 for reconstitutingthe dry reagents in these wells. The liquids in reconstitution wells maybe transferred to wells 311-313 using pipettes. Each of the wash wells325 contains a first aqueous solution to wash the probe after bindingsteps in the sample, biotin reagent, and streptavidin reagent wells311-313.

The measurement well 329 contains a second aqueous solution. In oneembodiment, the second aqueous solution is the same as the first aqueoussolution. The measurement well 329 has a light transmissive bottom,which may be transparent or translucent. The light transmissive bottomis used for an optical reading during the immunoassay test. The opticalsignal at the bottom tip of the probe is read through the lighttransmissive bottom. In one embodiment, a laser beam is projectedthrough the light transmissive bottom to the bottom tip of the probeexcite a fluorescent label; the fluorescent signal is collected throughthe light transmissive bottom. In some embodiment, the thickness of thelight transmissive bottom is less than 1 mm. The first and secondcompartments are separate by an air space to prevent liquid penetrationfrom wells containing liquids to wells containing dry reagents.

The technique of fluorescent signal detection in a measurement well isdiscussed in details in PCT Application No. WO2010/101931, the contentof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The openings of the wells is sealed with a foil or a film. The seal ispenetrable. The wells may be opened by piercing the seal by a manual orautomated device. To achieve better sealing, rims 309, i.e. small raisedlines, are built around the opening of the wells and the edges round thewet and/or dry well areas.

In one embodiment, the cartridge is used to conduct an immunoassay test.Using a pipettor dispensing subsystem, about 20-100 μL (e.g. 50 μL) ofthe reconstitution buffer is transferred from reconstitution wells toeach of the sample well, the biotin reagent well, and the streptavidinwell on the cartridge. An aliquot of about 10-50 μL (e.g. 20 μL) ofsample is transferred from a sample tube to the sample well by apipettor. The cap of the probe well is opened and the probe istransferred to the sample well and the bottom tip of the probe isimmersed in the liquid sample mixture. The probe incubates with theliquid sample mixture for a period of time. Afterward, the probe issequentially transferred to one or more (e.g. 2-4) wash wells.Subsequently, the probe is transferred to a biotin reagent well andincubated for a period of time. The probe is sequentially transferred towash wells. Afterward, the probe is transferred to a streptavidinreagent well and incubated for a period of time. The probe issequentially transferred to wash wells and lastly transferred to ameasurement well. The labeled streptavidin at the bottom tip of theprobe is detected through a light transmissive window of the measurementwell.

The present invention provides a method for conducting an automatedimmunoassay test using the cartridge. The method comprising (a)unlocking the cap of the probe well to an open position; (b) descendinga push pin and a groove unit having a groove down in a verticaldirection; (c) loading the probe between the push pin and the groove;(d) ascending the groove and the push pin; (e) shifting the groove andthe push pin in a horizontal plane to a location on top of the samplewell; (f) descending the groove and the push pin to dip the bottom tipof the probe into the sample well comprising a sample solution having ananalyte without touching an inner surface of the sample well, andallowing a reaction between the analyte and the analyte-bindingmolecules coated on the bottom tip of the probe for a first period oftime to form an immunocomplex; (g) ascending the groove and the pushpin; (h) shifting the groove and the push pin in the horizontal plane toa location on top of the reagent well; (i) descending the groove and thepush pin to dip the bottom tip of the probe into the reagent wellwithout touching an inner surface of the reagent well, and allowing areaction between the immunocomplex and the reagent for a second periodof time; (j) ascending the groove and the push pin; (k) shifting thegroove and the push pin in the horizontal plane to a location on top ofa wash well; (l) descending the groove and the push pin to dip thebottom tip of the probe into said wash well without touching an innersurface of said wash well, and washing away non-specifically boundmaterials on the probe; (m) ascending the groove and the push pin; (n)shifting the groove and the push pin in the horizontal plane to alocation on top of the measurement well; (o) descending the groove andthe push pin to dip the bottom tip of the probe into the measurementwell and maintaining the bottom tip of the probe in a distance from aninner surface of the measurement well; and (p) detecting theimmunocomplex formed by detecting a optical signal on the bottom tip ofthe probe through the light transmissive bottom. The method may beautomatically executed by the apparatus based on a pre-determinedsequence.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the probe well 401 and the cap 402 ofthe cartridge, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thecap 402 is hinged to the probe well 402 via a hinge 403 sot that the cap402 can rotate to a closed position and an open position. The openposition of the cap 402 is shown in the FIG. 4. The probe well 401 has arecess 404 inside of the opening of the probe well 401. A cushion may beplaced on the recess 404 to support the probe when the probe is storedvertically. The cap 402 may have a pair of lock hooks 406; there are acorresponding pair of cap lock holes 408 near the probe well 401. In oneembodiment, the lock hooks are small raised bumps on the fingers. Anordinary skilled person in the art will readily use other shapes ormechanisms to serve the purpose of the hook. When the cap 402 is in aclosed position, the lock hooks 406 are inserted into the lock holes sothat the cap 401 is locked in the closed position.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of the probe well 501 and the cap 502when the cap 502 is in a closed position, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. In order to release the cap 502, the two lockfingers 506 need to be pushed outward slightly to disengage the hooks.The probe 503 is stored vertically inside the probe well. An elasticcushion 505 may be used to support the probe 503 on the flange 504. Theelastic cushion 505 may be made from rubber, silicon, foam, spring, orother elastic materials. In one embodiment, the cushion 505 is O-ringshaped. In other embodiments, the cushion 505 may have other shapes suchas square or polygon. In one embodiment, the cushion 505 may be disposedon the recess in the probe well 501, or attached to the recess in theprobe well 501 by adhesive. In another embodiment, the cushion may beattached to the bottom of the flange 504. When the cap 502 is in theclosed position, the cushion 505 secures the probe flange 504 so thatthe bottom tip of the probe maintains a distance from an inner surfaceof the probe well without touching the inner surface. When the probe 503experiences a downward force during the automated immunoassay test, thecushion prevents the bottom tip of the probe form touching the innersurface of the probe well.

In some embodiments, the cushion 505 may further have a gasket ringportion 510 as shown in FIG. 5B. When the cap is in the closed position,the gasket ring 510 fills in between the opening of the probe well 501and the flange 504, so that the probe well forms an impermeable chamberenclosing the bottom tip of the probe, to prevent moisture from reachingthe bottom tip.

Besides the hinged cap shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge may alsouse a slide mechanism to open and close the cap. FIG. 6A illustrates anexample of a probe well and a sliding cap in a close position, accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. The sliding cap may beopened as illustrated in FIG. 6B to access the probe. FIG. 7Aillustrates another example of a probe well and a sliding cap in a closeposition, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Thesliding cap may be opened as illustrated in FIG. 7B to access the probe.

Apparatus for Loading and Releasing Probe

The present invention is also directed to an apparatus for loading andreleasing at least one probe having a rod-shaped portion. The apparatuscomprises a groove unit and push pin. The shape of the push pin may becylindrical, spherical, cubical, or any shape that an ordinary skillperson in the art may consider suitable for the purpose. The groove unithas a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold therod-shaped portion of the probe along the vertical direction. The pushpin is configured to move along a horizontal direction. The push pin iscapable of residing at a first position and a second position. When thepush pin resides at the first position, a tip of the push pin is capableof pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove. Whenthe push pin resides at the second position, the distance between thetip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of therod-shaped portion of the probe.

The push pin and groove is used to secure the probe between the push pinand groove so that the probe can be transferred to different locationsaccurately. The purpose of the apparatus is to load the probe and thendip the probe into different wells of the above-mentioned cartridge. Theapparatus has means to ascend the push pin and groove and to lift theprobe out of a well while the probe is loaded between the push pin andgroove. The apparatus has further means to shift the push pin and groovein a horizontal plane and to shift the probe to a location on top of anywells of the cartridge. The apparatus has further means to descend thepush pin and groove and to dip the bottom tip of the probe into a wellwhile maintain a distance between the bottom tip and the inner surfaceof the well, so that the bottom tip is not touching any surface of thewell.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an apparatus 800 for loading andreleasing a plurality of probes 810. The apparatus 800 is able to loadmultiple probes 801 simultaneously, and subsequently move the probes 801to different locations, such as different wells on cartridges. A motor802 drives an eccentric cam 803 to move a slider in a linear motionalong a shaft 805. The slider 804 is mechanically coupled to multiplepush pins 810 so that the push pins are moving simultaneously in alinear motion. One end of springs 806 are fixed on a support block 807,the other end of the springs 806 is pushing the push pins 810 toward thegroove unit 808. The groove unit 808 has multiple V-groovescorresponding to the push pins to load the probes 801.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the rod loading mechanism 900, according toone embodiment of the present invention. A push pin 901 is mechanicallycoupled to a slider 902 so that the push pin 901 and the slider 902moves simultaneously. The slider 902 is guided by a shaft (not shown) sothat the slider 902 and the push pin 901 can only move in a horizontaldirection. A first end of a spring 903 is fixed on a support block 904.A second end of the spring 903 is mechanically coupled to an end of thepush pin 901 providing a force to push the push pin 901 toward thegroove unit 905.

FIG. 10 illustrates a push-pin 1001 pushing a rod 1002 against aV-groove 1003. The V-groove 1003 is on a surface of the groove unit1005. The direction of the V-groove 1003 is along a vertical direction.The rod 1002 is a rod-shaped portion of a probe. When the rod-shapedportion is pressed against the V-groove 1003, the contacts pointsbetween the V-groove 1003 and the tip of the push pin 1001 determinesthe position and orientation of the probe.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a loading mechanism 1100, according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The push pins are fixed inside ofthe holes pre-drilled in the slider 1102. The slider 1102 is guided byone or more shafts 1106 so that the slider 1102 and the push pins 1101move in a horizontal direction simultaneously. As shown in FIGS. 9 and11, the push pins 1101 are backed by springs to push the probes againstthe V-grooves 1105 on the groove unit. Eccentric cam 1107 ismechanically coupled to the slider 1102. FIG. 12A shows a lock position1 of the eccentric cam. When the eccentric cam is in position 1 asshown, the slider is driven in a direction as indicated by the arrow inFIG. 12A. Accordingly, the push pins press the rod-shaped portion of theprobe against the V-grooves. FIG. 12B shows a release position 2 of theeccentric cam. When the eccentric cam is in position 2 as shown, theslider is driven in a direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 12B.Accordingly, the push pins release the probe from the V-grooves.

In one embodiment, there is a provided method using the apparatus tomove a probe to a plurality of locations. The method comprising (a)descending a pair of the groove unit and the push pin down in thevertical direction; (b) loading the probe between the push pin and thegroove; (c) ascending the pair of the groove and the push pin up in anopposite direction of the vertical direction; (d) shifting the pair ofthe groove and the push pin in a horizontal plane to a location of theplurality of locations; (e) descending the pair of the groove and thepush pin down in the vertical direction; and (f) repeating steps (c)-(e)at least one time. The method may use the apparatus to automaticallymore the probe to locations based on a pre-determined sequence.

FIG. 13A illustrates an apparatus 1301 for loading the probe 1302,according to one embodiment of the present invention. A probe 1301 isplaced in a probe well 1311, cushioned by an elastic cushion 1302. Theapparatus 1301 move the push pin and groove to a position above theprobe 1301. The motor 1304 drives the eccentric cam 1303 to move theslider and push pin to a release position. Next, as shown in FIG. 13B,the apparatus 1301 moves the push pin and groove down in a verticaldirection. The apparatus 1301 includes a ceiling 1305 (also referred toas top stopper). As the push pin and the groove continue to movedownward and toward the probe, until a top tip of the probe touches theceiling 1305. Thus, the ceiling 1305 ensures that a vertical position ofthe probe relative to the push pin and the groove is pre-determined andfixed before the push pin locks the probe. In other words, because ofthe ceiling 1305, the probe cannot move upward to a position where thepush pin and the groove are no longer aligned with the top portion ofthe rod of the probe. The elastic cushion 1302 is compressed slightly sothe top portion of the probe is engaged. The motor 1304 drives theeccentric cam 1303 to move the slider and push pin to a lock position.The tip of the push pin presses the rod-shaped portion of the probeagainst the groove to load the probe. Once the probe is loaded, theprobe is moved from the probe well 1311 of the cartridge 1310. As shownin FIG.

13C, apparatus starts to move the probe from well to well to conduct theimmunoassay test. Finally the probe is moved to a measurement well 1319.The measurement well may have a light transmissive bottom so that anoptical read head 1330 can read optical signal emitted from the bottomtip of the probe through the light transmissive bottom.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may be utilized to load and transfer aprobe to multiple wells in a cartridge, such as a cartridge shown inFIG. 3. Using a device such as a pipette, solutions in thereconstitution wells are transferred to sample well, biotin reagent welland streptavidin reagent well to reconstitute the dry reagents in thesewells. The apparatus unlocks a cap of the probe well of the cartridge toan open position. Then the apparatus descends a push pin and a grooveunit down in a vertical direction and loads the probe by pressing theprobe against a groove on the surface of the groove unit. The apparatusascends the groove and the push pin and shifts the groove and push pinin a horizontal plane to a location on top of the sample well, and thendescends the groove and push pin to dip the bottom tip of the probe intothe sample well. The sample well contains a sample solution having ananalyte. The analyte reacts with the analyte-binding molecules coated onthe bottom tip of the probe for a period of time to form animmunocomplex. The apparatus control the position of the probe so thatthe bottom tip of the probe is in the sample solution without touch anysurface of the sample well. The apparatus then transfers the probe intoseveral wash wells sequentially by similar motions of ascending,shifting and descending the push pin and groove. The apparatus transfersthe probe into the biotin reagent well to allow the reaction between theimmunocomplex and the biotin reagent. Afterward, the apparatus transfersthe probe to several wash wells sequentially to wash awaynon-specifically bound materials on the probe. The apparatus furthertransfers the probe into the streptavidin well and several wash wellssequentially. The apparatus transfers the probe into a measurement well.The bottom tip of the probe is dipped into an aqueous solution in themeasurement well. The immunocomplex formed on the bottom tip is detectedby an optical signal on the bottom tip through a light transmissivebottom of the measurement well. After the signal measurement, theapparatus may transfer the probe back to the probe well, or dispose theprobe to a waste bin.

In some embodiments, the apparatus can load and release 2-dimentionalarray of probes simultaneously. FIG. 14 shows an apparatus 1400 loadingand releasing an array of 96 probes. The motor 1401 drives the eccentriccam 1402 to move the slider 1402 and a 2-dimentional array of push pinsand V-grooves (not shown) to load and release an array of 96 probes1404.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Performing an Immunoassay Using Cartridge of thePresent Invention

Probe Preparation

Quartz probes, 1 mm diameter and 2 cm in length, were coated withaminopropylsilane using a chemical vapor deposition process (YieldEngineering Systems, 1224P) following manufacturer's protocol. The probetip was then immersed in a solution of murine monoclonalanti-fluorescein (Biospacific), 10 μg/ml in PBS at pH 7.4. Afterallowing the antibody to adsorb to the probe for 20 minutes, the probetip was washed in PBS.

Capture antibodies to b-type naturetic peptide (BNP), obtained fromHyTest, were labeled with fluorescein by standard methods. Typically,there were about 4 fluorescein substitutions per capture antibody.Anti-fluorescein coated probes were immersed in fluorescein labeledanti-BNP (5 μg/ml) for 5 minutes. followed by washing in PBS.

Cy5-Streptavidin-Crosslinked Ficoll

Cy5 labeling of Streptavidin is prepared according to the protocolsdisclosed in WO2010/101931.

Biotinylation of Anti-BNP

Anti-BNP (Hytest Ltd.) was biotinylated by a standard method. To 1 mganti-BNP in 1 mL of phosphate buffered saline was added 10 μLBiotin-LC-LC-NHS (Pierce Chemical) at 5 mg/ml in DMF. The mixturereacted for 1 hour at room temperature, followed by purification on a PD10 column (GE Healthcare).

BNP Assay

Cartridge Format:

Measurement Well: 80 μL PBS+0.05 % Tween 20

Wash Wells: 80 μL PBS+0.05 % Tween 20

Reconstitution Wells: 80 μL PBS+0.05 % Tween 20

Sample Well: 25 μL BNP sample+50 μL buffer from reconstitution well

Biotin Reagent Well: 5 μL B-anti BNP (25 μg/ml)+50 μl buffer fromreconstitution well

Streptavidin Reagent Well: 5 μL Cy5-Streptavidin-Crosslinked Ficoll (150μg/ml)+50 μL buffer from recon well.

Protocol:

1. Anti-BNP coated probe immersed in sample well and incubated with BNPsample mixture for 5 minutes at room temperature.

2. Probe was transferred sequentially to three wash wells, residencetime 10 sec per well.

3. Probe was immersed in biotin reagent well for 2 minutes at roomtemperature followed by cycling through three wash wells, 10 sec each.

4. Probe was immersed in streptavidin reagent well for 1 minute at roomtemperature, followed by cycling through 3 wash wells, 10 sec per well.

5. Probe was positioned in measurement well

6. Fluorescence at distal tip of Probe was measured.

Results:

The Results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 BNP pg/ml 6000 3000 1000 333 111 37 Neg. PMT Voltage 4.55 3.071.16 0.41 0.15 0.07 0.06 (mean of duplicates)

The invention, and the manner and process of making and using it, arenow described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enableany person skilled in the art to which it pertains, to make and use thesame. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferredembodiments of the present invention and that modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the present invention as setforth in the claims. To particularly point out and distinctly claim thesubject matter regarded as invention, the following claims conclude thisspecification.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for loading and releasing at leastone probe having a rod-shaped portion, comprising: a groove unit havinga groove along a vertical direction configured to hold the rod-shapedportion of the probe along the vertical direction, and a push pinconfigured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin beingcapable of residing at a first position and a second position, a ceilingconfigured to touch a top tip of the probe and to keep the probe in avertical position relative to the groove unit and the push pin such thatthe groove unit and the push pin are aligned with a top portion of therod-shaped portion of the probe; wherein a tip of the push pin iscapable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against thegroove when the push pin resides at the first position, and the distancebetween the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameterof the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at thesecond position.
 2. A method for moving at least one probe having arod-shaped portion to a plurality of locations using the apparatus ofclaim 1, the method comprising: (a) descending a pair of the groove unitand the push pin down in the vertical direction until a top tip of theprobe touches the ceiling, (b) loading the probe between the push pinand the groove, (c) ascending the pair of the groove and the push pin upin an opposite direction of the vertical direction, (d) shifting thepair of the groove and the push pin in a horizontal plane to a locationof the plurality of locations, (e) descending the pair of the groove andthe push pin down in the vertical direction, and (f) repeating steps(c)-(e) at least one time.
 3. An apparatus for loading and releasing aplurality of probes, each probe of the plurality of probes having arod-shaped portion having a common diameter, the apparatus comprising: aplurality of pairs of groove unit and push pin, each pair comprising: agroove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured tohold the rod-shaped portion of the probe along the vertical direction,and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the pushpin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position,a ceiling configured to touch a top tip of the probe and to keep theprobe in a vertical position relative to the groove unit and the pushpin such that the groove unit and the push pin are aligned with a topportion of the rod-shaped portion of the probe, wherein the tip of thepush pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probeagainst the groove when the push pin resides at the first position, thedistance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger thanthe common diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the pushpin resides at the second position, and the push pins of the pairs aremechanically coupled so that the push pins move along the horizontaldirection simultaneously.
 4. A method for moving a plurality of probesto a plurality of locations using the apparatus of claim 3, each probehaving a rod-shaped portion, the method comprising: (a) descending theplurality of pairs of groove unit and push pin down in the verticaldirection until a top tip of the probe touches the ceiling, (b) loadingeach probe of the plurality of probes between one pair of groove unitand push pin of the plurality of pairs simultaneously, (c) ascending theplurality of pairs of groove unit and push pin up in an oppositedirection of the vertical direction, (d) shifting the plurality of pairsof groove and push pin in a horizontal plane to a location of theplurality of locations, (e) descending the plurality of pairs of grooveand push pin down in the vertical direction, (f) repeating steps (c)-(e)at least one time, and (g) releasing the plurality of probessimultaneously.
 5. A cartridge for an immunoassay test, comprising: aprobe well comprising a probe and a cap, wherein the probe includes amonolithic substrate, and a bottom tip of the probe is coated withanalyte-binding molecules; a sample well to receive a sample; one ormore reagent wells; a plurality of wash wells each containing a firstaqueous solution; a measurement well having a light transmissive bottom,the measurement well containing a second aqueous solution; and whereinthe openings of the sample well, reagent well, measurement well and washwells are sealed, and wherein when the cap is in a closed position, thecap is folded over the probe well to enclose the probe in the probewell, but the cap does not cover the sample well, the wash wells or themeasurement well.
 6. The cartridge of claim 5, further comprising acushion disposed on an opening of the probe well to secure a flange ofthe probe when the cap is in a closed position so that the bottom tip ofthe probe maintains a distance from an inner surface of the probe well;wherein the probe comprises a rod and the flange surrounds the rod. 7.The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the cushion has a gasket ring portionto fill in between the opening of the probe well and the flange of theprobe, so that the probe well forms an impermeable chamber enclosing thebottom tip of the probe.
 8. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein thecushion is further configured to prevent the bottom tip of the probefrom touching the inner surface of the probe well when the probeexperiences a downward force.
 9. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein thecushion comprises an elastic material.
 10. The cartridge of claim 5,wherein the probe has a sleeve under the flange, and a diameter of thesleeve is substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of anopening portion of the probe well.
 11. The cartridge of claim 5, whereinthe probe well comprises a recess on the opening of the probe well andthe cushion is disposed on the recess.
 12. The cartridge of claim 5,wherein the reagent wells contain dry reagents.
 13. The cartridge ofclaim 12, further comprising one or more reconstitution wells eachcontaining a reconstitution buffer to be dispensed into reagent wells toreconstitute the dry reagents.
 14. The cartridge of claim 12, whereinthe reagent well is separated by an air space from the wash wells or themeasurement wells.
 15. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the reagentwell containing an analyte-binding molecule labeled with reportermolecules; and wherein the reporter molecules are fluorescent,chemiluminescent, or enzyme molecules.
 16. The cartridge of claim 5,comprising a first reagent well containing a biotinylated antibodydirected against the analyte, and a second reagent well containingstreptavidin labeled with reporter molecules.
 17. The cartridge of claim5, wherein the cap is hinged to the probe well via a hinge.
 18. Thecartridge of claim 5, wherein the cap is open and attached to the probewell during an immunoassay test.
 19. The cartridge of claim 5, whereinthe probe includes: a rod-shaped center segment having a bottom tip; aflange surrounding the rod; and a sleeve under the flange; wherein thebottom tip is coated with analyte-binding molecules and the rod-shapedcenter segment has a portion extruding from a top side of the flange.20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the sleeve and the flangecomprises a plastic holder clipping on the rod-shaped center segment anda fastener ring fastening the plastic holder.